Cayo Guillermo Shopping and Districts

(Cayo Guillermo, Ciego de Avila, Jardines del Rey, Cuba)



Don't expect to find any shopping options in Cayo Guillermo outside of the boutiques and gift shops within your hotel. Everything on these islands is confined to the resorts, and they only offer a smattering of basic souvenirs and sundries, along with the usual beach gear and essentials.

However, you can get some decent shopping in if you take a day trip over to Morón, less than an hour away on the mainland. The main street here is home to a selection of quirky stores where you may find something Cuban to bring home, from rum to cigars and local crafts, such as domino boards.


When to Shop and Where

One of the few things Cayo Guillermo (and Cuba) is famous for is cigars. Several of the island's resorts have special cigar lounges, such as the Lagoon at the Krystal Lagoon Hotel. Here, you can browse the huge selection of cigars and try one out before buying a box to take home. This very relaxing place has live salsa music to add to the ambience and makes a perfect place to sit back and enjoy a glass of rum.

If you really want to do some serious shopping in Cuba, you will need to spend a day or two in one of the larger cities like Havana, Camaguey or Santa Clara. There simply isn't enough on offer at the hotels on Cayo Guillermo, especially if you are hunting for traditional Cuban arts and crafts. Morón is your closest shopping option from the cays, but even here the goods for sale are somewhat limited.